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Title: Joseph Montoya Papers
Dates: 1972-1990
Collection number: LP410
Creator:
Joseph Montoya, California Legislator
Collection Size:
13 cubic feet of textual records
Repository:
California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: Joseph B. Montoya, Democrat, was a California Assembly Member from 1972 to 1978 and a Senator from 1979 to 1990. The Joseph
B. Montoya Papers consist of 12.75 cubic feet of textual records, 39 audiocassette tapes, and 1 audio record reflecting Montoya’s
activities during his eighteen-year Assembly and Senate career. The records are organized with his files first, followed by
files related to the committees he served on.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility
for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives
collections.
[Identification of item], Joseph B. Montoya Papers, LP410:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary
of State, Sacramento, California.
Acquisition and Custodial History
The Joseph B. Montoya Papers were acquired by the California State Archives in a series of six record transfers beginning
in 1975 (Accession Numbers: 75-140, 76-129, 78-155, 82-97, 90-46, 90-48).
Joseph B. Montoya, Democrat, was a California Assembly Member from 1972 to 1978 and a Senator from 1979 to 1990. Montoya was
first elected to public office at the age of 28. He served on the La Puente City Council from 1968-1972, was Vice-Mayor 1969-1970,
and Mayor 1971-1972. Montoya was elected to the California Legislature in 1972 to represent the 60th Assembly District that
included the cities of Bassett, Baldwin Park, City of Industry, El Monte, La Puente, North Whittier, Rosemead, South El Monte,
South San Gabriel, West Covina, and Valinda. Montoya then defeated Senate incumbent Alfred Song to represent the 26th Senate
District in 1979. The 26th district consisted of the Los Angeles County communities of Alhambra, Baldwin Park, El Monte, Irwindale,
La Puente, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pico Rivera, Rosemead, and San Gabriel. Montoya’s political career ended in 1990 when
he was convicted on felony charges of racketeering, extortion, and money laundering. Montoya was one of five legislators caught
by the FBI’s vote-selling sting. He was sentenced to serve six and a half years as well as pay restitution.
Joseph B. Montoya was born April 30, 1939 in Rocky Ford, Colorado. He moved to La Puente, California with his parents at the
age of 15. After graduating La Puente High School in 1957, he spent four years in the US Air Force. After being honorably
discharged in 1961, Montoya graduated from Mount San Antonio College in 1964 and then from the University of California, Los
Angeles in 1966 earning a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Psychology. After college, he became a Social Services
Counselor for the Los Angeles County Department of Social Services serving as liaison official to the Department of Human
Resources and Development. Montoya is married to Pilar Gonzalez and the couple has four children: Cristina, Pilar, John III,
and Marisa.
As a state legislator, Montoya’s major interests were election reform, welfare, anti-abortion legislation, and human services.
According to the California Blue Book, Assembly Final History, and Senate Final History Montoya served on the following committees:
- Standing Committees
- Agriculture, 1973-1976
- Constitutional Amendments, 1973-1974
- Education, 1973-1978
- Rules, 1975-1978
- Transportation, 1977-1978
- Select Committees
- Implementation of Career Education, 1973-1976
- *Chair, 1973-1976
- Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition, 1973-1974
- Service Station Franchising and Petroleum Products Practices, 1973-1974
- Employment Development-Rehabilitation Demonstration Task Force, 1973-1974
- Veterans Affairs, 1977-1978
- Permanent Subcommittees
- Postsecondary Education, 1975-1978
- Transit, 1977-1978
- Ad Hoc Subcommittees
- Adult Vocational Education 1977-1978
- *Chair, 1977-1978
- Standing Committees
- Education, 1979-1980
- *Vice-Chair, 1979-1980
- Business and Professions, 1979-1990
- *Chair, 1983-1990
- Industrial Relations, 1979-1990
- Transportation, 1979-1980
- Energy and Public Utilities, 1981-1990
- *Chair, 1981-1982
- Elections and Reapportionment, 1981-1984
- Revenue and Taxation, 1981-1984
- Agriculture and Water Resources, 1983-1986
- Health and Human Services, 1983-1990
- Banking and Commerce, 1985-1990
- Insurance, Claims and Corporations, 1987-1990
- Subcommittees
- Business and Professions – Garment Manufacturing, 1981-1990
- *Chair, 1981-1990
- Business and Professions – Cable Television, 1985-1990
- *Chair, 1985-1990
- Business and Professions – Sports, 1987-1990
- *Chair, 1985-1990
- Energy and Public Utilities – Cable Television, 1981-1984
- *Chair, 1981-1984
- Select Committees
- Occupational Preparation and Placement, 1979-1980
- *Chair, 1979-1980
- Farm Labor Problems, 1979-1980
- Housing and Urban Affairs, 1979-1982
- Licensed and Designated Sports, 1983-1986
- *Chair, 1983-1986
- Anatomical Transplants, 1983-1984
- Governmental Efficiency, 1983-1984
- •Subcommittee on 1984 Olympics, 1983-1984
- Small Business Enterprises, 1983-1990
- *Vice-Chair, 1987-1990
- Pacific Rim, 1987-1990
- *Chair, 1987-1990
- Commissions
- Educational Management and Evaluation, 1979-1980
- Boards and Councils
- Social Welfare Board, 1973-1974
- Social Benefits and Services Advisory Board, 1975-1976
- Advisory Council on Vocational Education and Technical Training, 1975-1980
- Joint Committees
- Rules, 1975-1978; 1983-1990
- Ad Hoc Educational Sunset Review, 1979-1984
- Study on Workers’ Compensation-Resolution Chapter 127, Statutes of 1983, 1983
- Review for the Master Plan of Higher Education-Chapter 1507, 1984
- Legislative Budget Committee-Government Code Sections 9140, 9141, 1987-1988
Biography/Organization History
Montoya also served as the Majority Whip in the Assembly from 1973-1978.
The Joseph B. Montoya Papers consist of 12.75 cubic feet of textual records, 39 audiocassette tapes, and 1 audio record reflecting
Montoya’s activities during his eighteen-year Assembly and Senate career. The records are organized with his files first,
followed by files related to the committees he served on. His records are organized into two series: Bill Files, 1972-1990;
and Subject Files, 1973-1981. The committee records are organized into six subgroups: Joint Committee on Vocational Education,
1974-1975; Assembly Select Committee on Implementation of Career Education, 1976; Assembly Sub Committee on Adult and Vocational
Education, 1977; Senate Select Committee on Farm Labor Problems, 1979; Senate Select Committee on Licensed and Designated
Sports, 1983-1987; and Senate Committee on Business and Professions, 1983-1988.
The Bill Files document Montoya’s legislative activity during his time as a member of the California State Assembly and Senate.
While the bills introduced by Joseph Montoya cover a wide array of subjects, he did have a few subjects that were his primary
focus. Montoya was a strong pro-life Democrat and authored Senate Bill 11 in 1987-1988 to force minors to get either parental
consent or a court order before a doctor could perform an abortion. Ultimately SB 11 wasn’t signed into law, but it did have
over forty coauthors which demonstrated that it had fairly broad support. A majority of his legislation came from his work
on legislative committees. As Chair of the Subcommittee on Licensed and Designated Sports, Montoya authored numerous bills
such as SB1324 and SB1645 in the 1983-1984 session in an attempt to strengthen the regulation related to the licensing of
boxers and wrestlers. He also introduced numerous bills to improve vocational education in California, such as SB 167 (became
law) and SB708 (vetoed), 1985-1986.
Montoya also served on the Chicano Caucus and was concerned with the wide spectrum of issues that affect the Chicano community.
Researchers interested in Chicano issues should review the following files in the subject files series: Chicano Caucus, Chicano
Affairs, Education, Education-Bilingual, and Spanish Surnamed Employees.
No further accruals are expected.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Montoya, Joseph B.
Bilingual education and bilingualism
Vocational education - California
Mexican Americans - California